Cruz's new recruit shows he is enjoying his new surroundings

The Derek Cruz-trained newcomer Castle Hero put his bad barrier manners behind him and scored easily up the straight. At his first start, then with Michael Chang Chun-wai, the gelding became fractious in the barriers and then raced ungenerously. At his first barrier trial for Cruz, he not only passed to the stewards satisfaction, the four-year-old put the writing on the wall with a strong performance. 'He has had plenty of work, that and the hood really helped him settle in his race today,' Cruz said. 'The straight is better for him right now because he has a nice long stride and he is still maturing. He jumped and just cruised up to them easy and just waited and let them go. He then showed a nice kick.'